The US military is developing contingency plans for a large-scale ground operation in Iran aimed specifically at capturing or destroying the country’s enriched uranium stockpiles, according to the New York Post and CNN. The Pentagon is reportedly evaluating the ground assault scenario as a viable alternative to further airstrikes on Iran’s heavily fortified nuclear infrastructure.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Executing the extraction operation would require thousands of US military personnel. According to the reported scenarios, conventional forces would first be deployed to secure the territory surrounding the nuclear facilities, neutralize landmines and explosive devices, and clear damaged entrances to underground complexes. These forces would also be tasked with establishing defensive perimeters and securing evacuation routes. Following the initial breach, smaller tactical teams – potentially comprising US Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and specialized hazardous material units – would enter the facilities to physically extract or destroy the enriched uranium. Potential targets for the operation include the underground complexes at Fordow and Isfahan, as well as a subterranean facility near Natanz known as Pickaxe Mountain, where analysts suggest hundreds of centrifuges may have been relocated following previous strikes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimated in 2025 that Iran had accumulated more than nine tons of enriched uranium, with a significant portion stored in deep tunnel networks near Isfahan.